JOBS AVAILABILITY SNAPSHOT 2021 - Embargoed to Thursday 21 October 2021 - Anglicare WA
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Embargoed to Thursday 21 October 2021 JOBS AVAILABILITY SNAPSHOT 2021
Anglicare Australia’s Jobs Availability Snapshot was first published in October 2016. Anglicare Australia’s Jobs Availability Snapshot attempts to show what the job market is really like for those facing the greatest barriers to work – those who may not have qualifications or experience to draw on, those trying to re-enter the workforce after a long break, or those living in regional or remote areas. Copyright © 2021 Anglicare Australia Anglicare Australia is a network of independent local, state, national and international organisations that are linked to the Anglican Church and are joined by values of service, innovation, leadership and the Christian faith that every individual has intrinsic value. Our services are delivered in partnership with people, the communities in which they live, and other like-minded organisations in those areas. With a combined income of over $1.94 billion, a workforce of over 11,000 staff and 6,000 volunteers, the Network delivers more than 50 service areas in the Australian community. Our services are delivered to over 474,00 people and reach close to 1.37 million Australians in total. In all, Anglicare services reach over 1 in every 19 Australians. As part of its mission the Anglicare Australia Network “partners with people, families and communities to provide services and advocacy and build resilience, inclusion and justice.” Our first strategic goal charges us with reaching this by influencing “social and economic policy across Australia with a strong prophetic voice; informed by research and the practical experience of the Network.” Preferred citation: Anglicare Australia 2021. ‘Jobs Availability Snapshot 2021.’ Anglicare Australia: Canberra. Anglicare Australia Inc 1st Floor , 11 Edgar St Ainslie ACT 2602 PO Box 4093 Ainslie ACT 2602 Tel: (02) 6230 1775 Fax: (02) 6230 1704 Email: anglicare@anglicare.asn.au Web: www.anglicare.asn.au Cover and internal photographs: Courtesy of Anglicare Southern Queensland and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
JOBS AVAIL ABILIT Y SNAPSHOT 2021 Contents I n t r o d u c t i o n 4 M e t h o d o l o g y 6 Job classification Job advertisements People seeking work W h a t w e f o u n d 8 Jobs advertised Ratio of people to jobs W h a t c a n b e d o n e 1 2 A liveable income for everyone Invest in job creation Abolish Jobactive C o n c l u s i o n 1 6 References
INTRODUCTION
As Australia moves from recession to recovery, work has become a key In spite all of the changes to the workforce over the past year, the
indicator of how we are rebounding. number of people with barriers to work has barely budged. Even with a
The narrative has been one of success. In spite of recent lockdowns resurgence in the number of entry-level job vacancies, people with the
across Eastern Australia, many commentators have been pointing to our greatest barriers to work aren’t getting them. They are competing with 27
strong recovery and low unemployment rate. jobseekers for each one of these roles.
But there’s something missing from this story. Most employment The unemployment rate isn’t low because everyone who wants a job
statistics assume that each person can compete for every job. We know has one. Instead, many people are giving up on looking for work and
this isn’t true. dropping out of the workforce entirely. Others are technically employed,
but are working zero hours each week. The number of people in the
Anglicare Australia’s Jobs Availability Snapshot, released each year,
labour force is dropping, and rates of underemployment remain high.
shows what the job market is really like for jobseekers who don’t have
qualifications or experience to draw on. In every part of the country, Since this Snapshot was taken, NSW, Victoria and the ACT have entered
these jobseekers outnumber entry-level vacancies by as many as eight to extended lockdowns. This time, there is no JobKeeper safety net to
one. help keep people connected to their jobs. The jobs situation is likely to
worsen.
For those without work, the JobSeeker payment will leave them well
In spite all of the changes to the below the poverty line without the extra support they were given in
2020. It’s hard to find work when you don’t have enough food on the
workforce over the past year, the table, or can’t afford an internet connection. Instead of forcing people
to live in poverty and participate in a punitive system of obligations
number of people with barriers and penalties, we need to change how we support people looking for
to work has barely budged work, and rethink the value we put on other contributions people make,
outside the paid labour force.
4METHODOLOGY
The Snapshot investigates whether the labour market is creating the 1: Bachelor degree or higher qualification, or at least five years of
right opportunities for people with barriers to work. It compares data relevant experience
about the number of people with barriers to work with the number of 2: Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or at least three
suitable job advertisements in the sample month of July. years of relevant experience
The July data reflects the early weeks of the Sydney lockdown, but not 3: Certificate IV, Certificate III with at least two years training, or at least
the lockdowns across NSW, Victoria or the ACT. three years of relevant experience
The snapshot is based on three Federal Government datasets: 4: Certificate II, Certificate III, or at least one year of relevant experience
» The Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of 5: Certificate I, compulsory secondary education, or on-the-job training.
Occupations is a typology of all potential positions in the labour
The Snapshot focuses on Level 5 jobs as these are best suited to people
market by the qualifications, skill levels, and experience required;1
looking for entry-level work requiring minimal training and experience.
» The Internet Vacancy Index examines the distribution of currently
advertised positions, by skill level;2 and
Job advertisements
» Jobactive caseload data associated with the Jobseeker
The Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) collates job vacancies advertised online
Classification Index is used to classify people accessing government
across Australia and rates them according to ANZSCO skill levels. It counts
funded employment services according to the barriers they face to
online job advertisements posted on SEEK, CareerOne and Australian
entering the workforce.3
JobSearch. While the IVI sometimes includes duplicates from single vacancies
on multiple job sites, it can also mask the number of vacancies such as when
Job classification a single advertisement is placed for a bulk recruitment round.
The Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations These variations do not affect the reliability of the IVI in measuring shifts
(ANZSCO) categorises the different types of jobs available in the labour in employment.4 It continues to be used by the Government to measure
market and the skill levels they require. It lists each job type according to vacancies. The Snapshot uses the IVI to calculate the number of suitable
five skill levels: jobs nationally, and in each state and territory.
6People seeking work
The Snapshot uses data provided by the Department of Education, Skills
and Employment on the number of jobseekers within Jobactive who
have barriers to work.
This Snapshot
People receiving the JobSeeker payment must have an assessment
through the Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI) to gauge the level
investigates
whether
of difficulty they face in gaining work. This information determines the
level of support they receive from Jobactive. According to their score on
the JSCI, people are categorised into streams of employment support
within the Jobactive network. Stream C is for those who need the most
support to find and keep work. The Stream C cohort is a major focus of
this Snapshot.
the market
Not every person facing barriers to work is a Jobactive participant. Some
are clients of Disability Employment Services, while others are not eligible
is creating
the right
for income support. Of those who are, not all qualify for the Stream C
category.
It should also be remembered that more highly-skilled jobseekers also
apply and compete for Level 5 jobs, as do those who are underemployed
and looking for more hours. This is even more likely in 2021, as the opportunities
for people
impacts of the pandemic continue to be felt across the labour force. This
means that the number of people looking for jobs at this level almost
certainly exceeds the number of people classified as Stream C, and the
Snapshot’s findings are conservative.
7W H AT W E F O U N D
Jobs advertised
Table 1 shows the number of Jobactive participants in July 2021, The IVI recorded 231,560 jobs advertised in July 2021. This is almost
including those classified as Stream C. Nearly 640,000 people double the number of advertisements recorded for our previous
participated in Jobactive, and more than 10 percent were classified as Snapshot in 2020. Of the positions advertised, 16 percent were classified
Stream C with significant barriers to work. as Level 5 vacancies. Almost half of all vacancies (47 percent) called for
The actual number of Jobactive participants classified as Stream C is tertiary qualifications or at least three years’ experience, reflecting a long-
similar to 2020. This likely indicates that many of the people out of work term trend for more advanced skills in the workforce.
as a result of the pandemic were higher-skilled. It also demonstrates Table 2. Proportion of jobs advertised by skill level, July 2021
that for people with the greatest barriers to finding work, a stronger job Jobs advertised Level 5 jobs, number Level 5 jobs, percentage
market alone will not be enough to support them into secure work. 231,560 38,040 16%
Source: The Vacancy Report July 2021, Labour Market Information Portal
This is supported by other evidence demonstrating entrenched
unemployment among people receiving unemployment benefits. Data These figures reflect a strong resurgence in advertisements, but it is
from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment shows that important to remember that this year’s Snapshot month fell before recent
the average length of time in Jobactive for people in Stream C is five lockdowns. Since then, recruitment activity has slowed. Preliminary data from
years.5 August 2021 shows that the number of job advertisements has decreased, as
Table 1. People seeking work, 2021 and 2020
lockdown restrictions spread to Victoria, the ACT and across NSW.
People seeking work 2021 2020
People unemployed 639,200 923,000
Ratio of people to jobs
People underemployed 1,153,339 1,707,900
Jobactive caseload 1,013,452 1,442,760
When comparing the number of people in Stream C of Jobactive to the
Stream C caseload 104,457 106,620 number of vacancies, we find that for every Level 5 position, about three
Stream C % 10.7% 7.4% people are competing for each job. Throughout Australia, there is no
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Market Figures July 2021 and May 2020;
Labour Market Information Portal, July 2021 and May 2020
region with enough entry-level jobs to meet demand. The situation is
most dire in Tasmania, where almost eight jobseekers with barriers to
work are competing for each Level 5 position.
8Table 3. Ratio of people in Stream C to Level 5 jobs advertised by region
Region Stream C to Level 5 job, 2021 Stream C to Level 5 job, 2020
Jobseekers with barriers to
Australia 2.8 7.8
ACT 1.2 2.5 work are not just competing
NSW 2.8 7.8
NT
Queensland 2.8
2.0 6.2
7.3
with one another. Higher-skilled
SA
Tasmania
4.4
7.9
10.3
21
candidates can and do apply for
Victoria 1.9 6.4
WA 3.4 9.1 entry-level roles.
Source: The Vacancy Report July 2021, Labour Market Information Portal
These improvements appear to be driven by an increase in the number of This ratio is dramatic, but it is nevertheless an improvement on the results
Level 5 jobs advertised, which have bounced back following record-lows of last year’s Snapshot, which was shaped by lockdowns and recession. In
in 2020. 2020, there were 106 jobseekers for each Level 5 vacancy.
However, these results highlight the fact that jobseekers with barriers to The improvement in this ratio, coupled with the stubbornly consistent
work are not just competing with one another. Higher-skilled candidates number of people in the Stream C caseload, suggests that the recovery is
can and do apply for entry-level roles. Underemployment also increases being driven by the most employable jobseekers taking the most easily
demand for these jobs, as people seek more hours or second jobs. available jobs. Those with barriers to work have been left behind as the
This is especially true as people seek to recover from an unprecedented number of jobseekers in Stream C remains high.
downturn. Table 4 shows that in total, there are a staggering 27
jobseekers for each Level 5 vacancy.
Table 4. Ratio of all Jobactive jobseekers to Level 5 jobs
Level 5 jobs Total Jobactive caseload Ratio of jobseekers to Level 5 jobs
38,040 1,013,452 27
Source: The Vacancy Report July 2021, Labour Market Information Portal
9Tr e n d s i n w o r k a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n
The results show that the unemployment rate has fallen compared to The official unemployment also rate hides the number of people who
last year. It is now at its lowest level since 2008. A major reason for this remained notionally employed, but had their hours cut to zero. In July,
fall, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, is that many people 180,000 people worked zero hours but were counted as employed, in spite of
gave up looking for work during lockdowns. As a result the labour force the fact that they were stood down or worked no shifts.9
participation rate dropped to 66 percent,6 masking many of the realities The true rate of people without work is likely to be much higher than the
facing our labour force. unemployment rate suggests.
This change to the participation rate, highlighted by Figure 1, explains why It also appears that many of the new vacancies created and advertised
almost 1.3 million Australians were receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance have been part-time, casual and insecure. Casual jobs account for almost 60
payments in our Snapshot month,7 with over one million people in the percent of all waged jobs created since the trough of the recession. Part-time
Jobactive caseload, yet only 639,200 people were officially considered to be work accounts for almost two-thirds of all new jobs. Very insecure positions,
unemployed. This is in stark contrast to Roy Morgan’s Real Unemployment including gig economy jobs, also account for much of the rebound in self-
Rate for July, which is much higher at 1.422 million Australians.8 employment.10
Insecure and precarious work is associated with an absence of key
Figure 1. Trends in the labour force participation rate
protections, such as sick pay, annual leave and superannuation, uncertain
hours and continuity of employment, and often, lower wages. The difficulty
of not knowing how many hours they will work makes it hard to save and
build up a financial buffer, and increases the likelihood that they will find
themselves out of work again.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Australia August 2021
11W H AT C A N B E D O N E
The most profound finding from this year’s results is that people with In the meantime, people are forced to live on the JobSeeker payment.
barriers to work are not benefiting from the economic recovery. Many Its meagre rate pushes them deeper and deeper into poverty, making it
aspects of this year’s results have improved dramatically, at least harder to secure a job.
according to official statistics. Job advertisements have increased while But there is an alternative. In 2020, JobSeeker was lifted above the
unemployment, underemployment, and the Jobactive caseload have poverty line, and JobKeeper gave stability to people in insecure work.
all declined. Yet the number of jobseekers with barriers to work remains People were able to afford fresh food, fill their prescriptions and pay their
stubbornly unchanged. Those who need the most help to find work, and bills on time. This effectively gave Australians access to a form of basic
those who are likely to be long-term unemployed, are not benefitting income for the first time.
from the recovery in the labour force. This points to the difficulty many A permanent basic income would lock in these benefits. Every Australian
people face in securing work, in spite of the rhetoric of recovery. People deserves a liveable income. It is past time that our welfare system was
are being forced to look for jobs they are unable to get. Any jobs that are reformed to provide it.
available to them are increasingly precarious and insecure. Anglicare Australia’s Valuing Every Contribution research examined
The labour market continues to fail people with barriers to work. We support for a permanent basic income.11 Not only did we find strong
need to change how we support jobseekers, particularly for those with support for the idea, but there was little evidence that it would reduce
barriers to work. the incentive to work. Some people indicated a permanent basic income
would mean they could work less, but this could benefit others who
A permanent basic income are looking for work or want to work more. Others would be able to
Australia’s social security system assumes every working-age person will volunteer more, or care for loved ones in need of help.12
be able to find full-time work. The expectation is that the reliance on We must change the current system to recognise that many people –
income support will be temporary. This snapshot shows how unrealistic who are forced to perform futile obligations to receive support – are
these assumptions are. There are three people facing barriers to work for already contributing to society. Through volunteering, caring for family
every entry-level job, and 27 jobseekers for each of these roles overall. members and loved ones and contributing to community life.
Many people will be unemployed for a long time. Even a strong job
market will not be enough to help everyone secure a job.
12Abandon mutual obligations Activity requirements for people out of work in Australia are among The regime of punishment and compliance that has grown up around the strictest and most punitive in the world. These obligations include the current Jobactive system should be replaced with a system that searching for up to 20 jobs a month, participation in courses or programs, is tailored and person-centred. It should look more like the system and for some people, Work for the Dole. If these obligations are judged not that jobseekers want, with less busywork and more genuine support, to be met, payments can be suspended, leaving people without income. including support to turn jobs into lasting opportunities. With so few jobs available or attainable for people with barriers to The proposed New Employment Services Model provides little in the way employment, mutual obligation requirements are pointless and of additional flexibility while adding an extra layer of automation that demoralising for job seekers. People are being forced to submit risks an even more harsh, inflexible and less person-centred system of applications for jobs they will never get, or participate in training that will mutual obligations. do little to improve their job prospects. In a recent survey by Anglicare Australia, people overwhelmingly did not Investing in the care industr y believe that their obligations were tailored to their needs (just 19 percent Across Australia, some sectors are desperate for workers. The care agreed), or that they were being given the support they need to find industry is the fastest growing industry in Australia. The demand for skill work. Even fewer (11 percent) believed that these activities were helping Level 4 aged and disability care workers is projected to grow by nearly 25 them find paid work.13 An overwhelming number thought their activities percent over the next five years. The Royal Commission into Aged Care and obligations were pointless (79 percent), and a majority saw them as Quality and Safety reported an estimated need for more than 130,000 obstacles preventing them from finding work or participating in more additional, full-time equivalent workers by 2050. This would be a 70 meaningful activities (56 percent).14 percent increase on current levels. People subject to mutual obligations search just as intensively for jobs, These are meaningful jobs, in a growth industry, with a solid career but take longer to find employment and are less likely to be employed trajectory. twelve months later. Even for those who do manage to find work, after As a female-dominated industry, job creation in the care sector can help one year they are in lower quality jobs in terms of hourly wage, hours close the gender wage gap and improve the rates of women’s economic worked and weekly wage, than other Australians who had not been participation. subject to mutual obligations.15
We need to We need to create pathways for people looking for work to be trained
and skilled to fill the jobs of the future. There is a real opportunity to
connect people with barriers to employment with entry-level jobs,
create pathways including by providing genuine and supported work placements and
encouraging completion of high-quality training to ensure people have
for people
the right skills to meet the needs of employers and service users.
This approach makes good economic sense. Experts report that investing
in childcare and other forms of social care would create twice as many jobs
looking to be
as the same investment in construction.16 The Anglicare Australia Network
is already grappling with the challenge of meeting workforce demand and
developing inclusive employment strategies, as shown by our case studies.
trained and At the same time, jobs created in the care sector need to be permanent,
secure roles, with competitive wages and good conditions. Inadequate
and short-term funding from the government makes it impossible for
skilled for the sector employers to offer secure work. The Royal Commission into Aged
Care Quality and Safety noted that casually employed carers can struggle
jobs of the
“to provide continuity of care and form ongoing relationships with older
people,” and that the system would function best if moved away from this
reliance on casual workers.17
future
Care work will not be suitable for everyone who is unemployed and
needing entry-level work. Governments should also identify other sectors
of the economy where the demand for jobs can be matched with the right
opportunities for those struggling to gain employment. This will mean
creating supported employment pathways and local community jobs.
14CASE STUDIES N a t i o n a l Yo u t h E m p l o y m e n t B o d y S PA R K A g e d C a r e A p p r e n t i c e s h i p s Over the last year the National Youth Employment Body and the Informed by its research on the workforce issues facing the aged care Transition to Work National Community of Practice have supported five sector, Anglicare Australia member Benetas is trialling the SPARK Aged communities in Darwin, Penrith, Logan, the Gold Coast and Adelaide Care Apprenticeships program. This is a revolutionary program which North to implement a coherent and tailored skills pathway into aged care flips recruitment on its head, and is aligned with the Aged Care Workforce and disability support for young people. Strategy, A Matter of Care. Anglicare Australia Network member the Brotherhood of St Laurence In 2018 Benetas pilot tested an initiative to ‘grow our own’ talent, which was the enabling organisation, providing the methodology, research and involved ten candidates. The SPARK Aged Care Apprenticeships program evaluation expertise to enable collaborative efforts. sources people with the right values first and foremost. They are then Forty-eight young people have successfully completed the pathway, with taught the skills they require to work in aged care. many confidently moving into employment or further training relevant Benetas then employs them on a work based traineeship to give them to their aspirations and goals. the workplace experiences, coaching and support from buddies, as well The Skills Trial pathway has provided young people with holistic support as the opportunity to complete their Certificate III in Individual Support to explore different roles and careers, build work readiness and industry at TAFE, all whilst working at Benetas. This TAFE program is delivered in a exposure, skill development and work experience, which has enabled flexible way to enable the work based learning to continue. them to make an informed decision on further training or work in the The process includes, for example, site visits, work experience shifts, sector. Even if the sector is not for them, young people have shown learning about a resident’s life and reporting back. The site and the they are ready to take the skills, confidence and experience developed person then decide if they want to progress. If both agree then a fixed through the pathway on to other opportunities. term 12-month contract is offered as an apprenticeship. The trial has involved employers in the co-design and all steps of the This program is in its infancy but is continuing to grow. Benetas currently pathway (information sessions, recruitment, training), encouraging has a total of 34 ‘Sparkies’ working and learning at Benetas. Benetas is local organisations to adapt their practice and thinking on the skills and very optimistic about the benefits the program will provide not only for innovations required to engage a young workforce into entry-level roles. its staff, but for the older people they serve.
CONCLUSION
As we move into the next phase of our recovery, it is clear that the The next fundamental question is how to support people back into work.
workforce is leaving many people behind. The recovery is being driven This is a challenge, but it also an opportunity to rethink our systems,
by the most employable jobseekers taking the most easily available jobs. and to create jobs where they are needed. With so many people in need
Those with barriers to work are still without jobs, and there is no clear of entry-level jobs, and with so much demand forecast for workers in
plan on how to support them. the care sector, we have an opportunity to plan a future workforce that
The Government, and many commentators, are focusing on the meets our needs.
positives. Job advertisements have increased while unemployment, We know this can be done, and we know it works. Our research goes
underemployment, and the Jobactive caseload have all declined. In beyond the statistics to show how the Anglicare Australia Network itself
spite of this, the number of jobseekers with barriers to work has barely has been helping to get people into work and to keeping them there.
budged. Those who need the most help to find work, and those who Agencies like Benetas and the Brotherhood of St Laurence have created
are long-term unemployed, are not benefitting from the recovery in the imaginative employment programs for disadvantaged and entry-level
labour force. jobseekers in aged care and home support services. With the disability
The recovery, along with the recession before it, have shown how our and aged care sectors set to grow exponentially across Australia, this is a
systems have been designed to look after the most advantaged best. model we can expand to provide stable work for those who need it.
In the recovery, as with the pandemic, they have failed the people who This is the right kind of market intervention. The government is fond of
need them the most. Never has this been more true than in our support saying that the best form of welfare is a job. If that is true, then it behoves
for people who are out of work. As this Snapshot is released, much of us to make sure the jobs are actually there.
Australia is emerging from lockdowns that are far tougher than those If we persist with an approach that’s failing, we are not simply denying
endured in 2020, with far less support. It is clear that Australia needs people jobs. We are denying them stability, activity, dignity, and a
a permanent solution to this enduring problem. A permanent basic connection to society.
income offers us the path forward.
16References
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) Australian and New Zealand 15 Gerards, R., and Welters, R. (2021) Does eliminating benefit
Standard Classification of Occupations Version 1.2. eliigibilty requirements improve unemployed job search and
2 Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business labour market outcomes? Applied Economics Letters.
(2019) Vacancy Report May 2019. 16 Women’s Budget Group (2016) Investing in the Care economy to
3 Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business boost employment and gender equality.
(2019) Job Seeker Classification Instrument 17 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2021) Care,
4 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003) Do job vacancies provide a Dignity and Respect. Final report.
leading indicator of employment growth?
5 Department of Education, Skills and Employment (2018) The next
generation of employment services discussion paper.
6 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) Labour Force Australia, July.
7 Department of Social Services (2021) JobSeeker Payment and
Youth Allowance recipients, monthly profile.
8 Roy Morgan (2021) Unemployment and Under-employment
Estimates, 2005-2021.
9 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) Insights into hours worked,
July 2021.
10 Centre for Future Work (2020) 2020 Year-end labour market
review: Insecure work and the COVID-19 pandemic.
11 Anglicare Australia (2021) Valuing Every Contribution.
12 Ibid.
13 Anglicare Australia (2020) Asking Those Who Know.
14 Ibid.
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